2024
REPORT
(Get that kettle on)
Approx: 10 minute read
Coming up…
Relationship Is Everything
How water is changing lives
Livelihoods & Food Security
Primary Education
Emergency Support
Fundraising
Special Thanks
Looking Ahead
Relationship is everything
A message from our CEO, Tom Herring
You and I are made for connection.
It would be hard to exaggerate how important relationships are to us — without healthy connections we suffer.
One of the main things that makes a relationship healthy is when both sides need the other about the same.
If the amount of need is not mutual, things get dysfunctional.
Do you ever think about the effectiveness of international charitable work? I assume you do at least a little since you are reading this.
It is no secret that aid is often ineffective and at times damaging. The main reason for this is because of relational imbalance.
Here is an everyday example:
When you go to buy a packet of Hobnobs, the interaction with the shop keeper is a balanced one, because you both need each other. You need the shopkeeper to keep the shelves stocked with sugary treats, and she needs your cash.
In my opinion, developing countries don’t need aid. The developing world needs mutually beneficial partnerships. This is the primary reason that we at Hope focus on business and entrepreneurship and effective partnership to create change.
Our social enterprise in Malawi called Hope Water supplies piped water where there is no safe water access. If customers stopped purchasing water credits because they were too expensive or the water smelled bad, the business would fail.
Because the people we want to help are not recipients of aid, but customers, they are in a powerful position. The relationship as evened out. We are dependent on the customer, just as they are on Hope Water.
We are so keen for our customers to thrive that we invest in them — helping them generate more income so that they can afford showers and flushing toilets in their homes, which in turn brings in more revenue to the business.
Another business we are helping to build buys produce from remote, smallholder farmers, which is stored and sometimes processed, and sold at a profit. We reinvest the proceeds into the enterprise and give a market to more farmers.
We need the farmers, so we invest in them. We provide training and support, and help them become viable producers. Because they have something we need — maize, rice and beans — these farmers have become powerful in the relationship.
Conventional international aid is nearly always one-sided, based on the agenda of the donor (often motivated by political or other ideology). This doesn’t work well and can breed all kinds of weirdness.
The approach that we have developed over years of experience and research is resulting in some great outcomes for families living in poverty.
Our heart is, and always will be for children — we are helping communities and families build an environment where children have the opportunities they need to thrive.
Wonderful things have been achieved in 2024 — read on and find out more.
We are so very thankful to you for making it all possible!
Tom Herring
In 2024 our work directly benefited 10,822 people:
6,640 children
4,182 adults
Significant positive impacts on a further 2,295 children.
Examples of someone benefiting directly are, a child who can now access safe drinking water or a mum who learns how to run a profitable micro enterprise.
An example of someone benefitting indirectly is a child whose parent is accessing important services like a Village Bank and business training.
How water is changing lives
What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Make a drink, use the toilet, take a shower?
Whatever it is, chances are you need water for it.
It is hard to start the day without water, and for many people around the world, getting hold of it is not a straightforward task. It may take 3 hours or more and a lot of effort.
The water is often not safe to drink and what’s more, the amount an adult can carry is less than you might use with a couple of flushes of the toilet.
It is common practice for children — particularly girls — to help collect water. As a result they often miss part of the school day.
For the residents of Chipwenkha Village, their water supply was a stream a long walk away. Instances of infection were high, which are dangerous and often life-threatening for children like Patience.
In 2024 with your help we were able to drill a borehole in her village, and the change for her and her friends has been dramatic.
“I can now attend classes on time and focus on my studies. I no longer have to worry about fetching water from far distances or suffering from diarrhoea. I am so thankful for the coming of the borehole which has given us hope.”
In 2024 we continued to support vulnerable communities by helping 2,296 people gain access to safe water.
300 households obtained access to a supply within 1km of their home for the first time, and water supplies were reinstated for 274 households who lost access due to break downs.
These communities have been equipped with the tools to maintain their water supplies. Water Management Committees learn about maintenance and implementing a transparent financial system for collecting fees and tracking spending. They are trained in good governance — the roles of members, fair decision making, community engagement and conflict resolution.
Sanitation & Hygiene
We work with our partners to improve sanitation in schools by improving facilities and providing training. This has a particular focus on helping girls overcome the barriers that prevent them attending school.
In 2024 Our partners taught 320 girls to make their own pads. Some girls have started up their own business making and selling them in their communities. We have also funded the construction of new toilet blocks at 2 schools, benefiting 1,273 children.
Without effective ways of looking after their own menstrual hygiene, girls miss out on a lot of time in class. School is no go for many for a significant number of days each year without adequate sanitary items and facilities.
We heard from Martha and her friend about how this initiative has changed things for them.
Martha holding a text book for her favourite subject — agriculture
“I would often skip school during my periods because I was too embarrassed to go. But since I started using the reusables pads I can focus on my studies without worrying.”
Young women learning how to make reusable pads
Simankwala Primary students outside a new toilet block
Hope Water Ltd
Hope Water regularly supplies 7,300 people with water — 1,600 households through public water points and 136 households through private water connections.
The business environment presents a number of challenges for the company, such as fuel and forex shortages, property damage and inflation. However we are determined to keep the supply available to the customers and to continually improve the service
The coming of a piped water network has presented a lot of opportunity for the community.
Chilozi is one business man who has been making the most of it, using the water to run a public toilet business in partnership with the council:
Chilozi’s Toilets
Before the arrival of Hope Water, fetching water from distant sources made it difficult to maintain basic facilities.
"Running the toilets was tough back then," Chilozi recalls. “But now, with a reliable water supply, his business is thriving.”
"We can offer clean bathrooms and toilets, which is crucial for public health.”
For Chilozi, a father of five, this change has been a game-changer. "Since I started this business, I’ve benefited greatly," he says, smiling. "I’ve been able to invest in livestock — goats and cattle — and even expand my operations to other areas."
Chilozi’s public toilets
The impact goes beyond Chilozi’s business, touching his family’s daily life as well. "This water isn’t just for the business," he says. "We use it at home too. It’s made a world of difference for my family."
The water system stands as a testament to the ripple effects of basic infrastructure — empowering individuals like Chilozi and sowing seeds of hope for a brighter, more sustainable future.
Water supply enables 10x business growth
Howard is a pig farmer. He remembers the daily struggle to access clean water.
“Before Hope Water, women spent more than two hours travelling to boreholes and queuing for water.
I see my life changing because of the water. Previously, we could keep two or three pigs but now I have close to 40 pigs. The animals consume a lot of water.
Having so many pigs gives me a lot of manure for my crops, as well as a good income.”
Howard spends MK30,000 (£13) per month on water but says it’s worth it for the benefits, which extend beyond agriculture.
Howard, proud pig farmer
“We take baths and wash clothes whenever we want, something we couldn’t afford in the past. Previously, from morning to noon, you would have just collected one pail of water.”
Livelihoods & Food Security
A New Hope for Farmers
In Mgonela Village people depend on farming, but in recent years they have been in a tricky situation. Traditionally farmers use chemical fertiliser to feed their crops.
Over time, soil quality has been declining while fertilisers have become prohibitively expensive. This has left farmers experiencing the double blow of depleted soils and no fertiliser. The result is very low yields and decreased household income, nutrition and health — badly impacting children.
With our partners we have been spreading knowledge about affordable options that also enhance soil quality over time.
Many farmers we work with do not believe it is possible to get good yields without artificial fertiliser, however members of Mgonela Village have now been converted.
This year Mgonela community members were taught how to make their own fertiliser using organic ingredients like manure, wood ash and maize bran.
Mixing fertiliser ingredients.
Farmers applied it to their fields in the November 2024 growing season and are surprised by the wonderful results, with healthy tall maize and deep green vegetable leaves — to the surprise of many.
Joyce struggled with poor harvests for years. She would harvest 250kg of maize on an acre instead of the expected 3,000kg. After the training she prepared the fertiliser and applied to her farm. This season, her maize field is thriving like never before.
Joyce in her maize field
“I used to buy fertilizer but now I make my own for less than 10% of the price. I expect to harvest more than 60 bags this year, because the maize is healthier.
This initiative has transformed my family and the village as a whole. This year there will be more food on the table. I will no longer worry about food shortages.”
In 2024 we supported 1,358 people like Joyce, providing training and support for building strong secure livelihoods.
In the communities we work, not many employment opportunities exist, so to provide for their families most people are required to be entrepreneurs. To help people be successful we focus on 3 key ingredients:
Mindset & Knowledge: People must understand that they have potential. Once we have hope for the future, most of the battle is already won. This is then complemented by relevant, reliable information.
Capital: To start or scale a business capital is required, so we help people set up small cooperative banks. With each member depositing just small amounts on a weekly basis the pooled funds becomes an invaluable source of capital for members.
Hard work: We cannot impart this, but we find using a cooperative approach is effective — we help people get organised into groups with a shared vision, which can be very motivating.
Once these three components are in place, there are a number of specific barriers we work to help organisations and individuals overcome.
Goat Loans
One of the interventions that we have found powerful is lending goats.
In 2024, 80 goats were distributed across 20 households. As the goats multiply, recipients pay back 4 goats, which are in turn passed on to other vulnerable households via a process overseen by our partners.
Goats are a great asset to have, proving to be a good source of income and nutrition for the owners.
To increase the capacity of recipients to care for the animals, 8 community members were trained as para-vets by the government Veterinary Officer. A drug revolving fund was established, a self-sustaining system designed to ensure continuous availability of drugs.
Tom visiting a goat loan recipient in northern Malawi
Tree Nursery
Deforestation is a significant threat to people’s livelihoods, worsening the impacts of flooding. In 2024, 56 farmers were involved in establishment and management of a tree nursery in 2024 with 6,000 seedlings being planted.
Farmers are being trained in agroforestry practices for improved environmental and economic outcomes.
Villagers in central Malawi were delighted to receive 100 trees, all useful for food and shade.
Members of Tiyamik Club with their mango trees
Planting a tree and growing up with it is a wonderful experience for a child
Nutrition
In 2024 we worked with over 200 households to help them learn about nutrition and how to grow nutritious food at home.
Helping children to eat well is a great opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing, not only for a happier childhood but for a brighter future.
By looking at a child's diet today, we can get a glimpse at what the rest of their life will look like.
Unfortunately, many children in Malawi don't eat enough nutritious food, and over half of children under 5 are anaemic due to a lack of things like iron and B vitamins.
When too little oxygen is transported around the body there are many knock-on effects such as increased susceptibility to other illnesses.
In response to this, we train hundreds of parents, carers and children about the variety of foods that our bodies need and how to grow them. We provide seeds to get going — like beans, various leaves and sweet potatoes.
In northern Malawi, 78 households were trained to grow sweet potato and cassava. Between them they harvested over 11 tonnes. This will provide each household with over 1kg of nutritious food per day for a 4 month period.
Sack gardens — an easy way to grow nutritious food at home
Learning the food groups
Enjoying a nutritious porridge
Linga Rice Mill
We have been working with our partner Njira Impact to create a sustainable solution for supporting smallholder rice farmers in Nkhotakota district, and Linga Rice Mill is the result.
Recently we caught up with Monica, pictured above, who is a member of Mthabithabi Rice Cooperative. She is excited by the vigorous growth after only 3 weeks of planting.
The co-op receives training from our partner in commercial rice production, as well as quality seed and a guaranteed price for their rice from Linga Rice Mill.
The co-op is also set up as a Village Bank where they pool savings and issue loans. This package of training, seeds, access to financial services and a guaranteed sale price is very powerful.
“I can now afford for my daughter to go to college where she is learning tailoring. She made me the dress I am wearing today.”
Linga Rice mill is working with 600 farmers.
In 2024, the business purchased 33.5 tonnes of rice from 220 smallholders. This is a great opportunity for farmers, since they normally really struggle a lot to obtain a good price for their rice due a number of factors like transport costs, storage challenges and exploitation from vendors.
SPRODETA Agribusiness
Through a social enterprise owned with our partner SPRODETA, in 2024 we purchased 65 tonnes of maize, soya, beans, rice and peanuts from 414 smallholders in northern Malawi.
The business was able to provide seed to 352 farmers. This helps lower the barrier for farmers to commercialise their farming, but also helps to ensure that their produce will be of high enough quality.
The business also trained 3,432 smallholder farmers in business management and entrepreneurship, which has resulted in a 47% increase in household income of those households.
In 2025 the business will begin operating a 10T maize milling machine to provide maize flower to hotels, schools, NGO’s and other institutions.
SPRODETA Agribusiness centre is getting close to opening. A number of setbacks have been met, but we are excited about opening up to the public soon.
A Tasty Incentive
After successful interventions working with 3 primary schools over the last 5 years In 2024 we began working with 2 new schools with our partner SPRODETA.
A feeding programme has been initiated for the 637 primary students at Kalaza and Nthizi Primary Schools, where children receive breakfast every day. All students have also received stationary.
A school meal is a big incentive to attend school, and this intervention has increased attendance by 10% so far.
Role-models
A Role-model outreach event was run. These communities are remote and children are not often exposed to the various careers and opportunities available to them if they are able to progress with their learning. The students were visited by professionals such as a nurse, a lawyer and business owner who were able to share their experiences and inspire the children.
Early Years Centre
In 2024 we also constructed an Early Years Centre so that young children have a safe, covered space to receive care, learn and play. It is currently being attended by 17 children, and also acts as a community space for many other activities.
Primary Education
Little ones enjoying the Early Years Centre
Start Smart Academy
We met Grace a few years ago and were inspired by her commitment to support vulnerable children. She noticed that many pre-school aged children in a particular area were not getting the care they needed at home. Poverty is debilitating and parents or guardians are often, for a number of reasons, not present with their children — maybe working in the fields, struggling with alcohol dependency or even passed away.
Grace began offering early years sessions for the children at a rented premises. We decided to partner with Grace’s vision, and together we have constructed a purpose-built building, which so far is catering for 44 children.
The centre provides high quality early year’s services, of which two thirds of the spaces are for fee-paying children. The remaining spaces are subsidised for vulnerable children from the surrounding villages.
One of these free spaces is occupied by Bridget.
Bridget’s life so far has not been without challenges. At 3 years old, her dad left the household. Bridget’s mum remarried but her new husband refused to take in Bridget.
She was sent to live with her grandparents. They are hardworking people but face big struggles. Mr. Mtumodzi is a subsistence farmer, cultivating a small piece of land to provide food for the family. To earn an income, he works as a watchman for a nearby family, earning around $15 per month.
Speaking of their struggles, Bridget’s grandfather shared that there are many days when the family does not have enough to eat, and Bridget goes to bed on an empty stomach or goes to school without breakfast. He expressed deep sorrow over the situation, saying that it pains him greatly to see his granddaughter go hungry.
Among these hardships, Bridget has been given an opportunity through Start Smart Academy, where she receives free care, education and learning materials. Bridget has embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly. She loves learning and actively participates in the activities, demonstrating confidence and determination.
With the strong foundation she is building at Start Smart Academy, she is better prepared for the challenges of life. Bridget’s grandfather holds deep hopes for her future. He dreams of seeing her grow into an educated young woman who will be able to support herself.
He expressed his gratitude for the support Bridget is receiving, saying that education is the greatest gift she could have been given. He believes that with determination and the right opportunities, Bridget’s future will be bright, and she will have the chance to break free from the cycle of poverty that has held back so many in their community.
Start Smart also supports the parents of vulnerable children who attend, helping them to build sustainable livelihoods through a Village Bank and training in small business management
Emergency Response
In 2024 we were thankful to receive an Emergency grant of £59,800 from the Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission.
Malawi experienced an unusual dry spell in the middle of the 2023/2024 growing season, causing a national food shortage affecting 2.3 million people. Many of these households were then hit by floods that washed away crops, livestock, property and public infrastructure.
The grant funding was used to provide relief to 5,031 vulnerable people in Karonga and Nkhata Bay districts. The support was provided to children, pregnant women, single mothers, the disabled and the elderly.
Local Support
In 2024 we were delighted to be able to provide support amounting to £22,100 to the following charities supporting children and young people in Guernsey:
Friends of Frossard Children’s Ward
We are always on the look out for organisations changing the world for families and children in Guernsey.
Do get it touch if you know of an organisation that might benefit from our support.
Fundraising
The £5 Lottery Club
The £5 Lottery Club is Guernsey’s most rewarding regular prize-winning opportunity. We love sending out thousands of pounds to happy winners every single month. In 2024 we sent out over £50,000 in prizes.
The club is an engine that keeps Hope for a Child running, enabling us to meet core costs and invest in communities in Malawi. With the proceeds we also support organisations benefiting children in Guernsey.
There are currently around 4,500 numbers in the monthly draw — raising over £200,000 over the year.
The draw takes place on the 23rd of each month when 100 winning numbers are drawn, including a top prize of £1,000 - except in May and November when the top prize is boosted to £3,000!
Find out more and join the waiting list HERE (we will be opening the doors to new members soon).
The Big Summer Lottery
“Winning £100,000 feels like a dream come true.
After years of saving for a house deposit and finally putting in an offer, this incredible win has made my dream home a reality.
I’m profoundly grateful to Tom and his amazing team for their dedication and hard work in organising this lottery. Their efforts not only supported my dreams but also make a significant difference in the lives of children in Malawi.
Thank you for this life-changing opportunity and for all the hope you bring to so many.”
The Big Summer Lottery 2024 made some extremely happy winners as always. We received some wonderful feedback from participants — and thank you to those who gave us ideas about what you would like to see happen in future draws
We gave away prizes worth a total of £185,500, including a top prize of £100,000.
The draw raised over £320,000 for Hope for a Child, which we are using to invest in communities in Malawi, meet our core operating costs and support charities benefiting children in Guernsey.
Here are some words from top prize winner Lauren:
Special Thanks
We could not have achieved any of the above without our wonderful partners in Malawi — SPRODETA, Rhema Institute for Development & Njira Impact.
We strongly believe in empowering local people to lead change in their own communities, and as a result all our work is delivered by our local partners.
We are also indebted to our wonderful Hope Team in Guernsey, who work passionately and tirelessly to raise funds and ensure we are achieving our aims in Malawi.
And of course, thank you to you — without the generosity of our supporters we could achieve very little — if you took part in The Big Summer Lottery, The £5 Lottery Club or purchased something from Hope Store in 2024, we can’t thank you enough.
2025 and Beyond
Hope is Tangible
We believe that hope is not a feeling or an abstract principle. It is not a narrator of today’s circumstances.
Hope is an experience. It means to feel something before it happens, to see something while it is still yet to take physical form. Most importantly — Hope doesn’t just happen, but something we need to apprehend.
I can’t shake the feeling that the future is bright. There is massive hope for humanity. Do not buy into the doom and gloom narratives that have always been peddled, but now have more routes into our consciousness than ever before.
The world can feel dark sometimes, but that has a lot to do with where our focus lies. I want to encourage you this year to protect yourself from the onslaught on negativity — you were never meant to carry the world’s burdens.
Look after yourself, tend your own garden, care for your family, friends and neighbours.
In the coming months and years we will remain focused on business and entrepreneurship as a tool for helping communities and families create an environment where children can thrive in Malawi — and we are so excited to have you on the journey with us.
In 2025 we will be connecting more people to safe water, and helping children access the basic things they need to thrive, like education and nutritious food, by enabling households to tackle the underlying causes of poverty.
We will work on developing the social enterprises that we part own, and supporting other high impact businesses, co-operatives and individuals — which provide essential services to the community and support livelihoods.
We will be launching a new fundraising initiative in the winter of 2025, which we are very much looking forward to inviting you to join!
Thank you for taking the time to read the Hope Report. We couldn’t do any of this without you.
Don't miss out on upcoming events and success stories:
Questions, comments or suggestions? We would love to hear from you. Email: tom@hope.gg
Hope For a Child is a charity registered in Guernsey No: 291